Grand Slam Tennis 2 Has No Sliders

[SteelerSpartan]

<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6uwbIauHHGc" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>


According to this guy who has the game and posted that vid^^
My Reaction:


More impressions from another who has the game

Positive:
+ Best Move Tennis game, but not perfect. Sports Champions Table Tennis is still the Move sports game reference.
+ Total Racquet Control (Analogue Stick): Difficult at first but after some practice works great.
+ Good variety of shots with the Controller - will probably be the only way to win online.
+ Move calibration is quick.
+ Move changes color depending on whether you hit a topspin or slice.
+ Atmosphere.
+ Commentary*.
+ Player creation - although restricted in some areas.
+ Despite the flaws, playing GST2 with the Move is fun.
+ Good court choices - not just the main stadiums at the Grand Slams.
+ Career mode looks good.
+ Grand Slam Classics - nice idea & fun to play (25 in all).
+ Player animations & Graphics. Murray actually looks like Murray (Top Spin 4 take note

Negative:
- If you've played the Demo it is a good representation of the final game. i.e. No significant gameplay changes.
- No Move 1:1 controls: Some shot types require a button press & directing shots is a bit erratic.
- (Move) Backhands can be hit with forehands & Vice-Versa.
- The ball hardly ever goes out.
- Lobs are pointless - your opponent ALWAYS smashes them back.
Against the better (AI) players it's an invitation to lose the point.

- Your (AI) opponent always has a 100% first serve rate.
Played a 5 Setter against Bjorn Borg (Level: Pro) - 100% first serve.
Played through a whole tournament (Level: Amateur) - All AI players had 100% first serve rates.

- Menu load times - although they are way better than Top Spin 4.
- *Commentary becomes repetative - similar to GST on the WII.
- Player footsteps sound is uneccessary & becomes annoying.
- The player speeds at the higher levels are absurd.
- Players never get tired - even after a 50 shot rally.
- Full HD? Nope, 720p.
Note to EA: Full HD is 1080p. **Please let me know if i've missed something here (GT5 runs at 1080p: Full HD)!

- Only one camera view.
- Aces are rare. At the higher levels perfect serves are met with perfect returns. It's almost better to hit softer serves & fool the AI.

Overall: 7/10

http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/8096975.page

[The Bimmer]

Re: Grand Slam Tennis 2 Has No Sliders

That sounded like a fair review. It is unfortunate that the issues in the demo cannot or have not been addressed. Was hoping that gamplay could be adjusted, guess not. PASS!

[rangerrick012]

Re: Grand Slam Tennis 2 Has No Sliders

Thanks for sharing this.

[SteelerSpartan]

Re: Grand Slam Tennis 2 Has No Sliders

-No Option to turn off the Color Trails that represent the type of shot

^^Add that to the list


Man the more I hear/see, the more Im realizing this game doesn't look to have the details/options that are going to keep sim minded people playing


I haven't bought a tennis game since the original Top Spin, and was hoping this game might have the depth/attention to detail to bring me back in.

[fearwhatnow]

Re: Grand Slam Tennis 2 Has No Sliders

-No Option to turn off the Color Trails that represent the type of shot

^^Add that to the list


Man the more I hear/see, the more Im realizing this game doesn't look to have the details/options that are going to keep sim minded people playing


I haven't bought a tennis game since the original Top Spin, and was hoping this game might have the depth/attention to detail to bring me back in.

Why don't you buy TS4?It's by far the best tennis sim ever.
It seems that GS2 is worse than the first one on Wii (which was pretty good btw)

[SteelerSpartan]

Re: Grand Slam Tennis 2 Has No Sliders

Why don't you buy TS4?It's by far the best tennis sim ever.
It seems that GS2 is worse than the first one on Wii (which was pretty good btw)

Well Im not really a hardcore tennis fan, only really like to watch Nadal in the majors Recently(Since 09) ...and I didn't think they captured his explosiveness/style that drew me to watch the sport more
I was kinda feeling like it needed to go above and beyond....otherwise I could hold off until something better showed up....though it doesn't look like that will be happening anytime soon

^^That and I read something about the Tournament AI that would potentially really bug me...

The difficulty shouldn't matter on what round you're in, it should only be based on who you're playing. Maybe they could make the further rounds slightly more difficult, as you could argue that players are more determined to win, but if I play Federer in the first round, that should be harder than playing Wawrinka in the final. The luck of the draw should count, somewhat.

http://www.gamespot.com/top-spin-4/f...emis-58948061/

^^Read that while I was researching the game last year...Is that still a problem???

[cocobee]

Re: Grand Slam Tennis 2 Has No Sliders

The gameplay video wasn't awful, I actually liked to see the effective use of the lob. Probably will get it, need a fun game. I play in a league so I'll get my sim fix from that, when I'm relaxing at home --this will do.

It's be nice if EA releases some gameplay tuner updates eventually (I wouldn't hold my breath)

[ps3veron]

Re: Grand Slam Tennis 2 Has No Sliders

A 7? Wow that seems to match the current reviews up on Metacritic: http://www.metacritic.com/game/plays...-slam-tennis-2

I was looking a little forward to this now I am becoming cautious!

You guys think the online will be active?

[der juicen]

Re: Grand Slam Tennis 2 Has No Sliders

A 7? Wow that seems to match the current reviews up on Metacritic: http://www.metacritic.com/game/plays...-slam-tennis-2

I was looking a little forward to this now I am becoming cautious!

You guys think the online will be active?

When did a 7 for a game become "stay away territory"? With that said, why do you even follow x out of 10 scores anyway? They are terrible.

[ps3veron]

Re: Grand Slam Tennis 2 Has No Sliders

When did a 7 for a game become "stay away territory"? With that said, why do you even follow x out of 10 scores anyway? They are terrible.

Well to be honest I expected much higher scores for this. Fact is the majority tend to follow the numerical review system. Compare sales to reviews, there's a definite correlation, look at the comments on any posts (this one included) and see for yourself.

And if I am looking this for the sole purpose of online competitiveness then the majority matters and hence the "x out 10 scores" matter.

[Greene_Flash03]

Re: Grand Slam Tennis 2 Has No Sliders

I'm glad I bought TS4 instead.

[rangerrick012]

Re: Grand Slam Tennis 2 Has No Sliders

Well IGN reviewer gave it an 8.5/10 and said it's 'the best tennis that video games have to offer'.

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/121/1218371p1.html#disqus_thread

Take that for what it's worth.

[eugreene2]

Re: Grand Slam Tennis 2 Has No Sliders

http://www.gamespot.com/top-spin-4/forum/hard-difficulty-frustrationgrand-slam-semis-58948061/

^^Read that while I was researching the game last year...Is that still a problem???

Yes, it's a major bug. If I meet Nadal in the quaterfinal, I beat him handidly. If I play him in the semifinals, then he's running down every shot & not making any unforced errors. It's so stupic. Top Spin 4 is not sim in my opinion. The attributes are pretty much off for every player.

[tinpanalley]

Re: Grand Slam Tennis 2 Has No Sliders

Hey guys,
I've got the game, been playing it for a couple of days.

I agree with a lot of what the first poster said and I'll add this... those of you who have the game tell me if you agree:

- The balls don't go out but they also don't ever even seem close. Other than during a fault, even when I go out of my way to hit a ball completely out of bounds it finds a way to stay in.
- The game speed is too fast. It's closer to Virtua Tennis than Top Spin.
- Plus... the fact that there seems to be no out of bounds balls means, to me, half the strategy is gone. If it's that easy to keep the ball in bounds then there's no penalty for hitting too hard. Swing away. That's not tennis. Tennis is more often about placement, even in today's power obsessed game.
- The lack of players is appalling. Even Top Spin 4 could get all those historic players AND a whole bunch of current ones?
- The faces? Seriously, are people still not over that? I'm sorry but the last thing I'm looking at when I'm playing a game is if players look real. I want a good tennis game (once and for all). Does anyone care that you're basically playing with cartoon characters in PS3 Table Tennis? No, cause the game is awesome!
- I can't tell right now, but there doesn't seem to be a limit to the number of players you can create. If that's the case, then we'll be able to create players for years. This will hopefully open up a whole new world of player creators who can strive for creating all the pros as accurately as possible. Very exciting to have the prospect of playing a Major from maybe the 4th round with all players in their actual spots on the bracket.
- The gameplay isn't hurt by the issues above too badly, but Top Spin 4 definitely plays a more nuanced game of tennis.
- I don't mind a bit more fun than sim in a career mode but this isn't even very close to a sim experience. Top Spin is far deeper.
- Grand Slam Classics mode is excellent. It's like the old FIFA days when the games came with situations you had to play in and the screen would actually change to black and white playing older games with the different balls they used back then. This mode is fun and a treat for real tennis fans.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

[ps3veron]

Re: Grand Slam Tennis 2 Has No Sliders

Hey guys,
I've got the game, been playing it for a couple of days.

I agree with a lot of what the first poster said and I'll add this... those of you who have the game tell me if you agree:

- The balls don't go out but they also don't ever even seem close. Other than during a fault, even when I go out of my way to hit a ball completely out of bounds it finds a way to stay in.
- The game speed is too fast. It's closer to Virtua Tennis than Top Spin.
- Plus... the fact that there seems to be no out of bounds balls means, to me, half the strategy is gone. If it's that easy to keep the ball in bounds then there's no penalty for hitting too hard. Swing away. That's not tennis. Tennis is more often about placement, even in today's power obsessed game.
- The lack of players is appalling. Even Top Spin 4 could get all those historic players AND a whole bunch of current ones?
- The faces? Seriously, are people still not over that? I'm sorry but the last thing I'm looking at when I'm playing a game is if players look real. I want a good tennis game (once and for all). Does anyone care that you're basically playing with cartoon characters in PS3 Table Tennis? No, cause the game is awesome!
- I can't tell right now, but there doesn't seem to be a limit to the number of players you can create. If that's the case, then we'll be able to create players for years. This will hopefully open up a whole new world of player creators who can strive for creating all the pros as accurately as possible. Very exciting to have the prospect of playing a Major from maybe the 4th round with all players in their actual spots on the bracket.
- The gameplay isn't hurt by the issues above too badly, but Top Spin 4 definitely plays a more nuanced game of tennis.
- I don't mind a bit more fun than sim in a career mode but this isn't even very close to a sim experience. Top Spin is far deeper.
- Grand Slam Classics mode is excellent. It's like the old FIFA days when the games came with situations you had to play in and the screen would actually change to black and white playing older games with the different balls they used back then. This mode is fun and a treat for real tennis fans.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Thanks a lot for your impressions! Have you by chance played the online? If so then how easy was it to find a game? Was it laggy? Thanks again!